Memorize Chapter 264

A/N:- Warning.

‘True to his alignment.’

Recalling Marvolo’s information through my Third Eye, the inscription felt fitting. I steadied my resolve and flung the wooden door open. The moment I stepped forward, a strange, hot gust swept over me, wrapping around my body and assaulting my senses with a pungent stench.

“Ugh…? T-The smell… It’s weird…”

“Urk.”

Perhaps more sensitive as women, An-Sol and Yun-Jung clutched their noses and retreated behind me. The other clan members stayed silent, but the stench—scorching and vile—must have churned their stomachs. It was bad enough to make even me recoil.

“Han-Byeol, you can cancel the Light spell.”

Judging by the time it took to descend, the basement was deep. Without windows, no light should penetrate. Yet, Light Stones studded the ceiling, and sparse torches lined the walls, brightly illuminating the area.

The light orb faded. We walked along rough, reddish-brick walls. Initially, we followed a straight corridor, but it soon split, blocked by a wall ahead, forcing us to pause.

‘Right or left.’

I knew little about the castle’s basement; the records never detailed its layout. Debating which way to go, I turned to the clan.

“Everyone, start using mana detection.”

“…”

“Spread out a bit. Use circular detection or high-density directional scans. Report anything immediately.”

This wasn’t just about finding players—it was about preparing for the unknown. At my command, the clan members activated their mana detection. I felt their mana streams spread across the floor. Nodding, I turned left.

“Go Yeon-Joo, you sensed something earlier?”

“Yes. Still do. My shadows are picking it up.”

Her calm reply drew a blank stare, but I figured it made sense. Her silence likely meant I was on the right path—or that either direction worked.

It was around the time we had been walking through the passage for about five minutes. The castle’s basement was silent. The only sound was that of our own footsteps on the passage floor. Just as I was beginning to feel that the passage was getting narrower, a faint, unfamiliar sound reached my ears.

Clank… Clank…

“Su-Hyeon.”

“I heard it.”

“If you keep going straight, there will be a part where the passage bends to the right. From there, the passage becomes extremely narrow. Maybe just enough for two people to pass through? The source of the sound is there.”

“Let's switch to a two-column formation. And the member on the left, takes two steps forward. We will proceed in that formation from now on.”

Go Yeon-Joo moved to the rear. Confirming the clan’s diagonal formation, I sped up. As she said, the corridor visibly narrowed. When a solid wall appeared, I spotted a right-turning passage. Turning into it, we froze at the sight.

‘I get the structure now.’

As Go Yeon-Joo predicted, the passage was barely wide enough for two. The right wall had large holes at regular intervals, framed with iron bars as thick as a woman’s forearm. If this wall was a giant rectangle, the opposite side likely had similar holes.

“Not a maze… a dungeon.”

Kim Han-Byeol was right—this was an underground prison. Leading the stunned clan forward, the foul stench intensified. I thought we’d adjusted, but nearing the holes, the odor surged, worse than ever.

Clank… Clank…

The chain sounds echoed again. Approaching a hole, I peered through the bars. Inside was a cave-like cell, about five pyeong. And then…[about 16.5 square meters]

“My God…”

“That’s awful… Sob…”

Hanging from the ceiling was a female player, arms bound tightly with chains. What made the clan wince was her dire condition.

Setting aside the fact that she was stripped naked and hanging, there wasn't a single spot on her that was unharmed. Not only was her entire body covered in bruises, but sharp whip marks were also etched on her private area. That wasn't all. Along with the reek of blood, there was the scent of a man's sperm filling the chamber, and the hardened, whitish solids concentrated on the woman's lips, chest, and private parts. Just by looking at those marks, one could easily guess what had happened in this place.

“An-Sol, prepare a healing spell.”

“Sob… Yes!”

I drew my Sun-Moon Divine Sword and cut the bars. Steel couldn’t withstand my power, and I made an opening. 

“Hyung, bu-but. How do we get those chains down…?”

Stepping inside, I slashed the chains.

Ping! Slash! Clank!

An-Hyun, looking for a mechanism, shut his mouth as the chains snapped and the woman fell. Catching her, I laid her on the ground. Her breathing was faint, but her chest moved—she was alive.

“───. ───. ───. Cure!”

A mass of warm light seeped into the woman groaning on the floor. But this wasn't something that could be fixed with a single healing spell. Baek Hangeol quickly handed me a healing potion which I spread evenly over her entire body. White smoke began to rise as her wounds started to heal.

“Mmm…”

The woman barely managed to open her eyes after three more healing spells and the use of two potions. She looked at us with hazy eyes, then they shot wide open and she quickly prostrated herself.

“Are you awake?”

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Hey, hold on, just a moment.”

“Spare me! I’m sorry! Please spare me!”

“…”

Her screams turned into sobbing pleas. As the clan members watched, unsure, I grabbed her chin, forcing eye contact. Her pupils were filled with terror. She slammed her chin, which she had barely managed to lift, back down to the ground and cried out.

“Please calm down for a moment and look at me.”

“Please, spare me. Please forgive me just this once.”

“The mage is dead. We’re the second rescue team. You’re safe.”

My mana-infused words reached her. The woman, who had been rubbing her hands together and bowing her head, lifted her head just a little at my words. Her trembling gaze seemed to scan all of us, and then her eyes rolled back as she fainted.

“…Su-Hyeon, this woman…”

“Probably one of the captured players.”

“I know that. But what do we do now…?”

“She’s breathing. She likely fainted from the release of tension after being pushed to a mental extreme.”

I spoke calmly, gesturing to An-Sol, Kim Han-Byeol, and Baek Hangeol. The three of them hesitantly approached the fallen woman, then swallowed hard and looked at me.

“It seems the players are in a more serious condition than I thought. As such, we will now assign roles…. First, you three. I’ll organize you into the healing team. When An-Sol begins healing, Kim Han-Byeol will assist her. And Hangeol, you stay by their side and get potions and other things ready.”

“““Yes.”””

“I’ll cut bars. Yun-Jung, follow me. If you find a player, bring them outside so the others can start treatment right away.”

“Got it, Oppa.”

“Go Yeon-Joo, An-Hyun, you’re a team. Check other passages for cells. If someone’s critical… An-Hyun.”

“Yes, Hyung.”

I paused for a moment and handed the Sun-Moon Divine Sword to An-Hyun.

“I’ll lend you the Sun-Moon Divine Sword. It’ll be better than a spear for this. With your skill, you should be able to cut through the iron bars easily. Take a few potions just in case. When Go Yeon-Joo gives the word, bring them to An-Sol immediately. Got it?”

“Understood.”

“Move now.”

An-Hyun took the sword, exchanged a glance with Go Yeon-Joo, and rushed off. Watching Yun-Jung drag the collapsed woman out, I drew my Nil sword and addressed the three standing there with pale faces.

“Let’s get started as well.”

*

With only one priest, the rescue operation was inevitably slow. So, we divided the roles. The process was straightforward: I cut through the iron bars, Yun-Jung went in to retrieve the player, and the waiting healing team immediately began treatment. Occasionally, I entered myself when a player was suspended high up or completely restrained, like the first woman we found.

Some cells showed signs of someone having been held there but were empty. Since the priority was treating the players, I focused on breaking the bars to make it easier for the healing team.

My judgment proved correct. Each cell along the passage held one or two players, at least.

The problem was that the deeper we went, the worse the condition of the players became—both physically and mentally. The first woman we rescued was in relatively good shape by comparison. Even the second and third players—a man bruised blue all over and the female player with a bulging stomach, seemed okay in comparison. At least all their limbs were intact..

But the players we rescued afterward were in such wretched, pitiful states that they were almost unbearable to look at.

“Ha…”

“O-Oppa. There’s something strange about this kid!”

“Hehe…”

About 30 minutes into the rescue operation, we reached the last cell in the first passage. Inside was a naked boy. On the surface, he didn’t seem to have any obvious injuries—at least not compared to the players who had been pierced or subjected to horrific acts. But his eyes were vacant, his face lifeless, and he kept making faint, wheezing sounds.

“O-Oppa. What’s wrong with him? He doesn’t look hurt anywhere…”

“He’s probably mentally broken. Pull him out for now.”

“Okay, but there’s a wound…”

“…Turn him over and lay him down so his backside is visible.”

“Huh?”

At my words, Yun-Jung tilted her head and checked the boy’s back. A faint scream, “Eek,” escaped her lips. His backside was caked in dried blood, brutally mangled. Her eyes widened and she spoke with a face of disbelief.

“They… they touched him too? But he’s a boy?”

“…Who knows? The female vagrants could have done it.”

“Those sick, perverted bastards!”

Yun-Jung’s face twisted with pity before erupting in fury. It was clear the boy had suffered more mental than physical trauma; his face was utterly blank. I looked at him calmly and let out a heavy sigh. We had only cleared one passage. There were no cells ahead, so it was time to check the remaining two sides.

Just as I turned to move, a sound rang out.

“Uwaaaah!”

“Uwaaaang!”

At the sudden sound of mixed vomiting and crying, I rushed out of the chamber. There, I saw An-Sol and Baek Hangeol doubled over in front of a male player with grotesquely twisted limbs, whom we had just rescued. Kim Han-Byeol, standing nearby, wasn’t as bad, but her face was deathly pale.

“O-oppa.”

Kim Han-Byeol’s voice trembled. Her gaze wasn’t fixed on the player below or on me but on someone behind me. I slowly turned around.

“Hyung…”

An-Hyun stood there, holding someone by the waist. Nothing was visible below the hips. In his arms was a male player whose four limbs had been amputated, his head hanging low.

“…Is he still alive?”

“Yes. She said he's still alive for now. She said to take him first…”

“Got it. Let’s treat him quickly. Bring him over and lay him down.”

“Yes, yes.”

An-Hyun swiftly laid the man on the ground. There was no sign of movement from him. As Go Yeon-Joo had said, he was alive, but barely distinguishable from the dead. I gestured for Kim Han-Byeol to bring the other two and asked An-Hyun.

“How far did you check the passages? How many were trapped there?”

“Well… both passages. And there was only this one guy.”

At An-Hyun’s words, my hand, which was about to uncork a potion, froze. One person. Ten members from the Riverside Clan. Fourteen from the first rescue team. Minus one confirmed death, that meant 23 people had been captured. I turned to count the players lying in the passage—seven in total. That meant 16 were…

“Hyung, also, Yeon-Joo noona asked me to pass on a message.”

“Go Yeon-Joo? What did she say?”

“She said she's found a passage leading down to a second basement level…”

The moment I heard that, a conversation with Marvolo flashed through my mind.

‘Margarita… Hmm, what do you think happened to her? Kehkehkeh..’